U.S. jobless claims rise slightly to 308,000

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The number of new applications for unemployment benefits edged up by 1,000 to 308,000 in the week ended Sept. 28, but layoffs in the United States remained at post-recession lows. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected claims to rise to 313,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis. The average of new claims over the past month, a more reliable gauge, fell by 3,750 to 305,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's the lowest level since May 2007. Also, the government said continuing claims increased by 104,000 to a seasonally adjusted 2.93 million in the week ended Sept. 21. Continuing claims reflect the number of people already receiving benefits. Initial claims from two weeks ago, meanwhile, were revised up to 307,000 from an original read of 305,000. Initial claims is one of the few federal economic reports that's released during a government shutdown because the information is collected by the states.

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